SHELTON — As school administrators continue crafting next year’s budget request, Shelton’s top city official offered some advice — do not ask for more money.

Mayor Mark Lauretti, asked about the schools seeking a 2019-20 fiscal year operating budget which could include a 2.99 percent increase, said he would not grant any such bump from the present year’s $72.5 million budget.

“They are not getting an increase,” said Lauretti. “This is a superintendent and a board that cannot manage money. Until someone holds them accountable, (the school board and superintendent) are not getting any more money. This is the first time in 28 years that I have taken this position.”

School Superintendent Chris Clouet, who is crafting a budget proposal which could go before the Board of Education Wednesday, said he has not heard directly from the mayor or mayor’s office on this issue.

“I’m not sure what his thinking is on that,” said Clouet, “but what is not true, the false notion, is that we don’t handle our money well. We are audited every year. It is a transparent process for all to see. I think it is getting a little stale to constantly repeat what is just not true.”

“If we’re in top 26 percent for student achievement for grades K through 8, and we have one of lowest levels of funding in the state, how can we be mishandling money?” asked Holden.

Holden said that, no matter the mayor’s present stance, the Board of Education still needs to prepare to present a reasonable proposal and be ready to vigorously support the request with facts.

“Frankly, while (Lauretti’s) saying that is his plan, we still need to make the case for a responsible request,” said Holden. “The 2.99 percent discussed by the superintendent still requires some cuts. We need to come in with a request and make the case that this isn’t pie in the sky, it’s not a wish list, it’s what we think we need to take care of the needs of our students.”

Lauretti also added that he does not plan to let the school board dig into the city’s general fund to cover the present fiscal year’s budget, if it were slip into a deficit.

“They have a responsibility to stay within their budget,” said Lauretti. “I have never had a board or superintendent overspend their budget like this one. They have to be held accountable for that. They are going to disagree with me, but when they can give themselves handsome pay increases, which the superintendent has, and make families participate in pay to play, that’s just wrong.”